Applying to Singapore Local Secondary School

What is International Student Admissions?

International Student Admissions is the process for non-Singapore Citizen / non-Singapore Permanent Resident students to seek admission into mainstream primary schools, secondary schools and junior colleges (JCs) in Singapore.

Admission of international students into mainstream schools is subject to availability of school vacancies, the student meeting the school’s admission criteria and the student’s successful application of a Student’s Pass (STP) from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), if necessary.

CATEGORY 1:International students with Dependant’s Pass (DP), Immigration Exemption Order (IEO) or with either parent who is a Singapore Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR), and who wish to study in a mainstream school, meeting the age criteria[1] (Table 1.1), may consider the following 2 options:

Table 1.1 Age Criteria

Secondary 1

12 to 14+

Secondary 2

13 to 15+

Secondary 3

14 to 16+

Secondary 4

15 to 17+
This is a critical level where students sit for the major examinations i.e. the GCE ‘N’ or GCE ‘O’ Level Examinations held towards the end of the year*. Schools will normally not admit new IS at this level.

Secondary 5

16 to 18+
This is a critical level where students sit for the major examinations i.e. the GCE ‘O’ Level Examination held towards the end of the year*. Schools will normally not admit new IS at this level.

Option1: Apply Directly to Schools

Schools generally consider admission applications in the first half of the year and international students may apply for admission at their schools of choice directly. Admission is subject to the availability of vacancies, provided there are no SC / SPR children on the schools’ waiting lists, and the international students meeting the schools’ admission criteria. Please refer to the step-by-step guide in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1 Applying Directly to Mainstream Secondary Schools

*The student will receive a Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration (SOLAR+) Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the school that will register him/her for Student’s Pass (STP) application. Upon receiving the SOLAR+ Registration Acknowledgement Letter issued by the school, the applicant should log into SOLAR+ on-line at ICA website immediately to apply for a Student’s Pass

Option 2: Participate in Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS)

International students seeking admission into Secondary 1-3 in the following academic year can apply for centralised school admission under AEIS. International students participating in AEIS would enjoy the convenience of a centralised test on English and Mathematics, and the offer of a school place based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test. There would be no school choices and requests for school transfers will not be entertained.

To register for or find out more about AEIS, please visit the AEIS webpage.

CATEGORY 2: International students without Dependant’s Pass (DP), without Immigration Exemption Order (IEO) and whose parents are not Singapore Citizens (SC) or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR)

International students without Dependant’s Pass (DP), without Immigration Exemption Order (IEO), and whose parents are not Singapore Citizens (SC) or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR), and who wish to study in a mainstream school, meeting the age criteria, should refer to the appropriate section below.

This exercise is for international students seeking admission into Primary 2-5 and Secondary 1-3 in the following academic year. International students participating in AEIS would enjoy the convenience of a centralised test on English and Mathematics, and the offer of a school place based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test. There would be no school choices and requests for school transfers will not be entertained.

CATEGORY 3: International students without Dependant’s Pass (DP), without Immigration Exemption Order (IEO), and whose parents are S Pass or Work Permit (R Pass) holders and are not Singapore Citizens (SC) or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR)

This exercise is for international students seeking admission into Primary 2-5 and Secondary 1-3 in the following academic year. International students participating in AEIS would enjoy the convenience of a centralised test on English and Mathematics, and the offer of a school place based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test. There would be no school choices and requests for school transfers will not be entertained.

Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS)

What is AEIS

The Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) is a centralised admissions exercise conducted by MOE around September or October each year for new international students who wish to join our mainstream primary and secondary schools in January of the following year.

AEIS consists of a centralised test on English and Mathematics that will assess the applicants’ English literacy, numeracy and reasoning abilities. Applicants who pass the test will be offered a place in a suitable school, based on availability of school vacancies, their test performance and declared residential area in Singapore.

International students seeking admission to mainstream schools in Singapore should note that English is the medium of instruction and are strongly encouraged to prepare themselves before sitting for the AEIS tests. They should be familiar with the English and Mathematics syllabi of the level preceding the one they are applying for.

Who is AEIS for?

New international students who do not have a place in a local school and who wish to seek admission into Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3 levels in January of the following academic year are eligible to take part in AEIS.

Applicants who pass the S-AEIS will be offered a place in a suitable school with vacancies based on their S-AEIS results. International students should not approach our schools for admissions as it will be centrally managed.

Eligibility

Figure 1.2 Supplementary Admissions Exercise For International Students (S-AEIS) Process

*The student will receive a Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration (SOLAR+) Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the school that will register him/her for Student’s Pass (STP) application. Upon receiving the SOLAR+ Registration Acknowledgement Letter issued by the school, the applicant should log into SOLAR+ on-line at ICA website immediately to apply for a Student’s Pass

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Applicants who have taken part in AEIS or S-AEIS previously and were unsuccessful may apply to take S-AEIS at the same or higher level, subject to them meeting the permissible age-ranges for the level. Alternatively, they may wish to consider education in other school systems.

Application Process

Key Events & Dates for 2015 S-AEIS

International students can apply from 2 January 2015 onwards to take part in S-AEIS and sit for the centralised test appropriate for their age cohorts. Registration for the test date will close when all available places for that test date are taken up. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to register early, make payment and submit the required supporting documents within one week of their online application.

Date

Event

Mode

January

Application for S-AEIS tests

Online application and submission of supporting documents and payment

Mid-Feb

Receive Entry Proof for S-AEIS tests

Email

End-Feb

Conduct of S-AEIS tests (for Primary Levels 2 – 4)

In person

End-Feb

Conduct of S-AEIS tests (for Secondary Levels 1 – 2)

In person

Mid-Apr

Release of school offers – Primary levels

View outcomes online

Mid to end-Apr

International students to report to school – Primary levels

In person

End Apr

Release of school offers – Secondary levels

View outcomes online

Apr – May

International students to report to school – Secondary levels

In person

How to apply for S-AEIS

For more information on S-AEIS application, please read the sections below before you proceed to complete the S-AEIS Online Application form. Applicants must use a valid email address in the application.

Documents required

Applicants are required to have a photocopy of the following supporting documents:

Applicant:

Birth Certificate

Data Page of Passport

Deed Poll (if any)

Dependant’s Pass (if any)

Immigration Exemption Order (if any)

Student’s Pass (if any)

Applicant’s Parents:

Data Page of Passport

Deed Poll (if any)

Singapore NRIC (if any)

Re-entry Permit (if any)

Employment Pass / Work Permit (if any)

Fees payable and Submission of Supporting Documents

The S-AEIS fee is S$672.00 (inclusive of GST). This fee is strictly non-refundable. Any requests for a refund will not be considered. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their availability for the test before applying.

Important information for Submission of Supporting Documents:

Submit payment and a photocopy of supporting documents within one week of online application or by the closing date of the registration period, whichever is earlier.

The photocopy of supporting documents submitted should be legible.

If the supporting documents are in other languages, an accurate English translation must accompany the photocopies.

All supporting documents submitted for application purposes will not be returned to applicants.

Incomplete applications (i.e. without photocopies of supporting documents and/or payment) will not be processed.

Applicants who pass the S-AEIS centralised test would be offered a place in a suitable school for the current academic year, primarily based on available school vacancies and the applicant’s performance in the S-AEIS test. Where possible, the school offer will take into account applicants’ intended residential area. Hence, there is no need for applicants to provide school choices. There will be no school choice and no release of test results under S-AEIS.

School transfer requests will not be entertained, as the school offer will take applicants’ performance and intended residential area into consideration. Therefore, please indicate your intended residential area carefully.

As the offer of a school place is dependent on the availability of vacancies and applicants’ test performance, admission is not guaranteed.

Successful S-AEIS applicants should prepare themselves in advance for a new school environment where English is the language of classroom instruction, and to familiarise themselves with the relevant curriculum for their level.

S-AEIS seeks to ensure that international students admitted to our mainstream schools are able to adjust to the rigours of the Singapore curriculum. As such, applicants need to pass the S-AEIS to be eligible for school admission.

Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply to take the next AEIS or S-AEIS at the same or higher level, subject to them meeting the permissible age-ranges for the level. Alternatively, they may wish to consider education in other school systems.

**The S-AEIS outcome is final. MOE will not accept any appeal requests from unsuccessful applicants.

Requirement for Student’s Pass (Important)

Successful applicants holding a Dependant’s Pass (DP) or Immigration Exemption Order (IEO) do not need to apply for a Student’s Pass (STP). Their admission can be confirmed immediately upon reporting to the offered schools.

Successful applicants without a DP or IEO should note that admission is subject to them obtaining a STP. They are advised to apply for their STP with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) as soon as possible after reporting to school so that they can start school at the earliest possible date upon receipt of the STP.